THE surfer who was killed in a shark attack on Saturday has been remembered as “one of a kind” after his brutal death.
Ben Kelly, 26, died at Manresa State Beach, off the coast of Monterey Bay in California, around 1.30pm.
Kelly was surfing when he “was attacked by an unknown shark species,” the California Department of Parks and Recreation said in a news release.
The 26-year-old local surfing entrepreneur was pronounced dead at the scene.
Loved ones remembered Kelly — who leaves behind a wife, Kelly — as a great man, who just loved surfing.
“Ben you were such a light to many and were so loved. Sending prayers to your family and friends,” one person wrote.
“A true legend and sweetest man I knew,” another said. “He showed love to everyone and was loved by many.”
A friend added: “Ben, you are one of a kind, one of the good ones, and you will be sorely missed.”
“Aloha bro and much love on your journey surfing to the stars.”
One user posted to Kelly’s Instagram that he left “a beautiful gigantic footprint of love across this world!”
“No answers to the questions, “Why???” It makes no sense!” the user added.
California’s park department said it “expresses its deepest sympathy to the family of the victim.”
Following the accident, one mile south and another mile north of where Kelly was attacked by the shark will be closed until May 14.
Park officials have posted signs within a one-mile radius of the attack at access points and beach entrances “warning beachgoers about the shark attack.”
Manresa State Beach is closed from 11am to 5pm daily amid the coronavirus pandemic, which they said meaning “no public access during this time,” with the exception of water sports.
The park is, however, open to local residents who are allowed to walk or bike on the beach, “provided that they maintain the recommended physical distancing of six feet or more.”
Drone photographer Eric Mailander said he’s seen dozens of great white sharks swimming near the shoreline in Monterey Bay recently, according to KRON-TV.
On Saturday morning, he said he saw 15 of them — but said none of them were acting aggressively.
Last month, another shark attack took place in southern California.
A surfer sustained minor injuries after the deep-sea predator attacked on Moonlight Beach in San Diego on April 29.
Despite these two incidents, sharks rarely attack people.
The International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum said there were just 64 unprovoked attacks on humans worldwide in 2019 — three of these occurred in California.
The shark attack tracker notes that a personal encounter with this creature is about one in 11.5million.
Source: Read Full Article